[ubuntu-uk] Ubuntu FTW

[alan c]

Sub7 wrote:
> I'm new, but inspired.

welcome!

> I live in a developing rural town where computers are the satanic 
> gadgets that the news makes them out to be.
> I am a geek and have been for years, and since i left school i have 
> looked at local businesses and realized that people who don't know what 
> they are doing, are being conned out of pocket. They just do not know 
> what they are buying.
> We have a little computer shop where you spend double what you should 
> be, i.e 15 quid for 2 kettle leads...

You are lucky to have a 'local' shop.
They are probably not rich, just using a similar markup as high street 
shops. Local shops can be useful if they spend a bit of time helping 
people who need it but dont know what to ask for. A one stop shop 
solution centre. time=money....  :-)

> So this has brought me to the 
> conclusion that education on computers is not great around here, it's 
> not open to the general public who are going to be the ones using 
> computers in every day life, and this needs to change.

Does this local shop know about Open Source? They will not get much 
profit on software, but it will be good for business if they get known 
for high quality, low cost software.

> So, i decided to bring up some ideas for use in a local IT convention, 

I wonder if your neighbours use 'IT' or just a 'computer' - the terms 
and names might be important for non specialists. Will 'IT'  attract them?

> people will certainly be interested in furthering themselves into 
> unknown territory

Good luck. In my area they unfortunately want to do the opposite, with 
no change  :-(

> and the NEED for this is big. There are a few people 
> who are educated as far as sending email, surfing the net and using 
> office applications, that's great, but, they are using windows and being 
> overrun with issues like viruses and stability. I see it every day! 

It is a de facto standard with - they think- known problems and known 
solutions

> People go into this computer shop and part with hundreds of pounds for

This may be one of the known solutions.

> him to put a disk in the drive and click next, next, next.

(Have you thought about offering a rival service?)

> Sickening.

yup
but it is a job. (for someone that is)

have you seen the Infopoint project?
http://infopointproject.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

> SOOOOOOO! With ubuntu being the highlight, i would need some good 
> material to show off

There is a lot of resource, however you will need to choose and adapt 
for your target audience.

Have you considered starting a village 'free software' club? Not by 
definition open source, but it would soon catch on.

> and is there such a thing as funding for these events?

not that I know of.
I fund my own Infopoint activities as a hopefully zero cost operation 
(not a loss maker if possible).

> The event will be recorded throughout (if it goes ahead).
> 
> I would appreciate anything you awesome folks have to say.
> 
> -Jake

Hey! we are Ubuntu etc users, not unduly awesome, but thanks anyway.

Were in the country are you? Is there a nearby LUG? Maybe other 
computer clubs?

-- 
alan cocks
Ubuntu user#10391
Linux user #360648